Jack
A natural or synthetic leather jacket or body suit covering the torso and upper arms and legs. Jack is somewhat better than ordinary clothing or bare skin when defending against blades; it is worthless against guns.
Mesh
A jacket or body suit made of natural or synthetic leather and reinforced with a lining of flexible metal mesh similar to chain mail but lighter and stronger. Mesh reduces or stops penetration by blades and has some effectiveness against guns; it is ineffective against laser fire.
Cloth
A heavy duty body suit tailored from ballistic cloth. The fabric absorbs impact energy and distributes the blow over the body, which possibly results in bruising. Nevertheless, cloth armor is almost the best and the most versatile available.
Flak Jacket
A less expensive version of ballistic cloth armor, generally covering only the torso and groin.
Reflec
Reflective material on a plastic base can be tailored into a body suit which is effective against laser fire but ineffective against most weapons. Reflec is worn under other clothing. Reflec is expensive and often difficult to obtain.
Ablat
Ablat is a cheap alternative to reflec fashioned from a material which will ablate (vaporize) when hit by laser fire. The ablation of the material carries away the energy of the laser and protects the wearer. Continued fire against ablat degrades its effectiveness, but the armor is cheap and easily replaceable. Ablat also has some value against other forms of attack.
Combat Armour
Combat armor is a complete vacc-suit-like array of metal and synthetic armor. Combat armor is strictly military and not available on the open market; it is issued to troop units and elite mercenary battalions.
Battle Dress
The ultimate in individual protection, battle dress is an advanced and powered version of combat armor. Battle dress enhances the strength and senses of individuals wearing it with variable feedback personal controls, servopowered limbs, and various kinds of electronic assistance. The individual wearing battle dress is effectively doubled in strength and given unlimited endurance.
To use Battle Dress a person needs the skill.
Combat Environment Suit
A neck to toe air-tight suit constructed of ballistic cloth. Generally worn open at the neck and wrists, the combat environment suit can be sealed by donning gauntlets and a clear flexible plastic headpiece. The suit is a military uniform which gives complete protection against most chemical agents, tainted atmospheres, biological agents, and a moderate defence against radiation. Heat build-up in the suit is handled by a simple, solid-state cooling system that is woven into the garment and that eliminates all infrared signature except on the exposed face, hands, and heat exhaust. The heat exhaust is a very pronounced IR source, but this can be dampened by inserting a chill can into the cooling system. The chill can eliminates the signature for 45 minutes to two hours; at the end of that time, the can is used up. The combat environment suit is the preferred type of cold weather clothing for people who have any experience with it. Because it manages heat exhaust, it is effective insulation. Light in weight, the suit is very good cold weather clothing.
Chameleon Option
At Tech Level 12, a chameleon surface becomes available for the combat environment suit, combat armor, or battle dress, at an additional cost of Crl000. It selectively bleeds heat to match background IR levels and effectively renders the wearer invisible to IR sensors.